System, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, method, and information processing apparatus for executing a communication game with another apparatus

Abstract

A system that executes a communication game with communication between/among a plurality of terminals is provided. Each of the terminals includes content data that is available at least in the communication game when at least a predetermined condition is satisfied and a decryption key. A first terminal of the terminals that satisfies at least the predetermined condition includes an encryption key corresponding to the decryption key. The first terminal transmits encrypted data encrypted with the encryption key to another terminal when it executes the communication game. When another terminal receives the encrypted data from the first terminal, another terminal verifies the encrypted data based on the decryption key. When verification of the encrypted data received from the first terminal is successful, a second terminal of the terminals that does not satisfy the predetermined condition permits temporary use of content data in the communication game by the second terminal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured to execute a communication game, the system comprising:
 a plurality of terminals, wherein each of the plurality of terminals comprises
 content data that is available at least in the communication game when at least a predetermined condition is satisfied, and 
 a decryption key, 
   a first terminal of the plurality of terminals that satisfies at least the predetermined condition comprises an encryption key corresponding to the decryption key,   the first terminal transmits encrypted data encrypted with the encryption key to another terminal when the first terminal executes the communication game,   when the another terminal receives the encrypted data from the first terminal, the another terminal verifies the encrypted data based on the decryption key, and   when the another terminal receives a plurality of pieces of the encrypted data and verification of one piece of encrypted data of the plurality of pieces of encrypted data is successful, the another terminal temporarily permits use of the content data in the communication game by the another terminal, wherein   the first terminal and the another terminal execute the communication game using the content data,   at least the first terminal transmits information indicating that the first terminal satisfies the predetermined condition to at least all other terminals included in the plurality of terminals, and   the another terminal determines whether the another terminal has received the encrypted data from at least the first terminal, based on the information indicating satisfaction of the predetermined condition.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the plurality of terminals comprises a plurality of decryption keys,   the first terminal comprises a plurality of encryption keys corresponding to the plurality of decryption keys, respectively,   the first terminal generates the encrypted data with an encryption key selected based on information held in the another terminal from the plurality of encryption keys, and   the another terminal verifies the encrypted data with a decryption key selected from the plurality of decryption keys based on the information held in the another terminal.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the plurality of terminals holds the encryption key when the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the plurality of terminals further comprises the encryption key, and   each of the plurality of terminals is permitted to use the encryption key when the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first terminal transmits the encrypted data to at least all other terminals included in the plurality of terminals.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the encrypted data is received from at least the first terminal and verification of all pieces of received encrypted data fails, use of the content data in the communication game by the another terminal is not permitted.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the communication game includes a game phase in which the plurality of terminals proceed with a game and a preparation phase preceding the game phase, and   even when the first terminal that has transmitted the successfully verified encrypted data leaves from the communication game in the preparation phase, in a game phase following the preparation phase, use of the content data is continually permitted in the another terminal temporarily permitted to use the content data.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 when an operation by a user in connection with use of the content data is accepted in the preparation phase, in spite of leaving of the first terminal that has transmitted the successfully verified encrypted data from the communication game in the preparation phase, use of the content data is continually permitted in the game phase.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication game includes a player-versus-player game. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having an executable program for execution of a communication game with communication with another apparatus stored thereon, the program causing a computer comprising content data that is available at least in the communication game when at least a predetermined condition is satisfied and a decryption key to provide execution comprising:
 receiving encrypted data encrypted with an encryption key corresponding to the decryption key from an apparatus among other apparatuses that satisfies the predetermined condition, wherein each of the apparatuses includes the content data that is available at least in the communication game when at least the predetermined condition is satisfied, and the decryption key;   verifying the received encrypted data based on the decryption key; and   temporarily permitting use of the content data in the communication game when the another apparatus receives a plurality of pieces of the encrypted data and verification of one piece of encrypted data of the plurality of pieces of encrypted data is successful, wherein   the apparatus and the another apparatus execute the communication game using the content data,   at least the computer transmits information indicating that the computer satisfies the predetermined condition to at least all other apparatuses included in the other apparatuses, and   the another apparatus determines whether the another apparatus has received the encrypted data from at least the computer, based on the information indicating satisfaction of the predetermined condition.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the computer comprises a plurality of decryption keys and a plurality of encryption keys corresponding to the plurality of decryption keys, respectively,   the program causes the computer to perform generating the encrypted data with an encryption key selected based on information held in the another apparatus from the plurality of encryption keys, and   the another apparatus verifies the encrypted data with a decryption key selected from the plurality of decryption keys based on the information held in the another apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the computer further comprises the encryption key, and   the computer is permitted to use the encryption key when the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
     
     
         13 . A method of executing a communication game with communication between/among a plurality of terminals, each of the plurality of terminals comprising content data that is available at least in the communication game in association with at least a predetermined condition being satisfied and a decryption key, the method comprising:
 transmitting, by a first terminal of the plurality of terminals that satisfies the predetermined condition, encrypted data encrypted with an encryption key corresponding to the decryption key to another terminal when the first terminal executes the communication game;   verifying, by the another terminal, in association with the another terminal receiving the encrypted data from the first terminal, the encrypted data based on the decryption key; and   temporarily permitting, by the another terminal of the plurality of terminals that does not satisfy the predetermined condition, use of the content data in the communication game by the another terminal in association with the another terminal receiving a plurality of pieces of the encrypted data and verification of one piece of encrypted data of the plurality of pieces of encrypted data being successful, wherein   the first terminal and the another terminal execute the communication game using the content data,   at least the first terminal transmits information indicating that the first terminal satisfies the predetermined condition to at least all other terminals included in the plurality of terminals, and   the another terminal determines whether the another terminal has received the encrypted data from at least the first terminal, based on the information indicating satisfaction of the predetermined condition.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein
 each of the plurality of terminals comprises a plurality of decryption keys,   the first terminal comprises a plurality of encryption keys corresponding to the plurality of decryption keys, respectively, and   the method further comprises:   generating, by the first terminal, the encrypted data with an encryption key selected based on information held in the another terminal from the plurality of encryption keys; and   verifying, by the another terminal, the encrypted data with a decryption key selected from the plurality of decryption keys based on the information held in the another terminal.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein
 each of the plurality of terminals further comprises the encryption key, and   the method further comprises permitting use the encryption key in each of the plurality of terminals when the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
     
     
         16 . An information processing apparatus configured to execute a communication game with communication with another information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising:
 processing circuitry including one or more processors;   content data that is available at least in the communication game when at least a predetermined condition is satisfied; and   a decryption key, wherein   the processing circuitry is configured to:
 verify, when the one or more processors receive encrypted data encrypted with an encryption key corresponding to the decryption key from an information processing apparatus among other information processing apparatuses that satisfies the predetermined condition, the encrypted data based on the decryption key, and 
 permit temporary use of the content data in the communication game when the another information processing apparatus receives a plurality of pieces of the encrypted data and verification of one piece of encrypted data of the plurality of pieces of encrypted data is successful, wherein 
   the information processing apparatus and the another information processing apparatus execute the communication game using the content data,   at least the information processing apparatus transmits information indicating that the information processing apparatus satisfies the predetermined condition to at least all other information processing apparatuses included in the other information processing apparatuses, and   the another information processing apparatus determines whether the another information processing apparatus has received the encrypted data from at least the first terminal, based on the information indicating satisfaction of the predetermined condition.   
     
     
         17 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , comprising:
 a plurality of decryption keys; and   a plurality of encryption keys corresponding to the plurality of decryption keys, respectively, wherein   the information processing apparatus generates the encrypted data with an encryption key selected based on information held in the another information processing apparatus from the plurality of encryption keys, and   the another information processing apparatus verifies the encrypted data with a decryption key selected from the plurality of decryption keys based on the information held in the another information processing apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the information processing apparatus further comprises the encryption key, and   the information processing apparatus is permitted to use the encryption key when the predetermined condition is satisfied.